The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

The Paranormal Museum gets uncomfortably close to its avowed
mission when it becomes the scene of a murder.

The last thing Madelyn Kosloski’s mother expects is that her
dear daughter, born into a family of achievers, will come back home from Russia
to live for cheap in her aunt Sadie’s garage. But Maddie, who’s had it with the
corruption in Moscow, is sure she’s more than qualified to get the right job
when it comes her way. Until then, she’s stuck managing San Benedetto’s
Paranormal Museum as a favor to her friend Adele Nakamoto. The problem with the
museum isn’t that it’s tacky or that it may be haunted or even that the oddest
people stop by with “contributions” they’d like exhibited; the real problem is
that Christy Huntington’s dead body has been found inside. Since Christy’s body
was discovered right before Maddie’s tenure, she doesn’t look too guilty; the
same cannot be said of Adele. Adele broke her engagement to Michael St. James
because he was cheating with Christy—in a Buick, no less. If Maddie and Adele
had their way, the police would see that neither one really has a motive for
murder. Instead, the officer investigating the crime is a tall, dark hottie
paired with (oh no!) Laurel Hammer, Maddie’s high school nemesis. Since Officer
Hammer isn’t willing to put aside her grudge against Maddie, it’s up to Maddie
to clear her name and Adele’s before either is sent to the slammer.

A clever combination of characters you care about despite the
silliness and absurd situations that hook you even though Weiss (The
Hermetic Detective, 2015, etc.) clearly doesn’t take them very seriously.

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